Mirror

Abstract

A mirror made of a synthetic plastics material in the shape of a shallow tray having a base which is metallized on its internal or external surface. The shallow tray has a rim integral with the periphery of the base. The shape of the cross-section of the rim enables the peripheral edge at the front of the mirror to be convexly rounded to a required radius greater than the thickness of the base. The shape of the cross-section of the rim also serves to hold the base from distortion and so maintains the optical properties of the mirror.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A mirror made of a synthetic plastics material comprising: a base having front and back surfaces, which each define a plane, and a peripheral edge; a rim upstanding from said base around the whole of said peripheral edge; and a metallised layer on one of said front and back surfaces of said base to provide second or first surface reflection respectively; wherein said rim has a peripherally-inner wall portion extending forwardly from said base, a crest portion defining a front peripheral convex face having a radius of curvature greater than the thickness of said base, and a peripherally-outer wall portion spaced from said peripherally-inner wall portion and terminating in substantially the same plane as said back surface of said base, such that, together, the peripherally-inner wall portion, the crest portion and the peripherally-outer wall portion form a U-shape, the thickness of said rim extending substantially uniformly throughout said peripherally-inner wall portion, said crest portion and said peripherally-outer wall portion. 
     
     
       2. A mirror as claimed in claim 1 in which the thickness of said rim extends substantially uniformly throughout said rim and said base throughout the whole area of said base. 
     
     
       3. A mirror made of a synthetic plastics material comprising: a base having front and back surfaces, which each define a plane, and a peripheral edge; a rim upstanding from said base around the whole of said peripheral edge; and a metallised layer on one of said front and back surfaces of said base to provide second or first surface reflection respectively; wherein said rim has a peripherally-inner wall portion extending forwardly from said base, a crest portion defining a front peripheral convex face having a radius of curvature greater than the thickness of said base, and a peripherally-outer wall portion spaced from said peripherally-inner wall portion and terminating in substantially the same plane as said back surface of said base; wherein the thickness of said rim extends substantially uniformly throughout said peripherally-inner wall portion, said crest portion and said peripherally-outer wall portion; and wherein said base has a marginal portion adjacent said rim, the thickness of said rim and said marginal portion being substantially uniform throughout, and a remaining portion within said marginal portion which is thicker than said marginal portion and said rim, said remaining portion provided by a stepped forward front face extending throughout the whole area of said remaining portion of said base within said marginal portion. 
     
     
       4. A mirror made of a synthetic plastics material comprising: a base having front and back surfaces, which each define a plane, and a peripheral edge; a rim upstanding from said base around the whole of said peripheral edge; and a metallised layer on one of said front and back surfaces of said base to provide second or first surface reflection respectively; wherein said rim has a peripherally-inner wall portion extending forwardly from said base, a crest portion defining a front peripheral convex face having a radius of curvature greater than the thickness of said base, and a peripherally-outer wall portion spaced from said peripherally-inner wall portion and terminating in substantially the same plane as said back surface of said base; wherein the thickness of said rim extends substantially uniformly throughout said peripherally-inner wall portion, said crest portion and said peripherally-outer wall portion; wherein said base has a marginal portion adjacent said rim, the thickness of said rim and said marginal portion being substantially uniform throughout, and a remaining portion within said marginal portion which is thicker than said marginal portion and said rim; and wherein said remaining portion is provided by a stepped rearward rear face extending throughout the whole area of said remaining portion of said base within said marginal portion. 
     
     
       5. A mirror made of a synthetic plastics material comprising: a base having front and back surfaces, which each define a plane, and a peripheral edge; a rim upstanding from said base around the whole of said peripheral edge; and a metallised layer on one of said front and back surfaces of said base to provide second or first surface reflection respectively, wherein said rim has a peripherally-inner wall portion extending forwardly from said base, a crest portion defining a front peripheral convex face having a radius of curvature greater than the thickness of said base, and a peripherally-outer wall portion spaced from said peripherally-inner wall portion and terminating in substantially the same plane as said back surface of said base; wherein the thickness of said rim extends substantially uniformly throughout said peripherally-inner wall portion, said crest portion and said peripherally-outer wall portion; wherein said base has a marginal portion adjacent said rim, the thickness of said rim and said marginal portion being substantially uniform throughout, and a remaining portion within said marginal portion which is thicker than said marginal portion and said rim; and wherein said remaining portion is provided by a stepped forward front face and a stepped rearward rear face each extending throughout the whole area of said remaining portion of said base within said marginal portion.